KARACHI (PPI) - Besides displacing millions of people, the floods in Sindh have caused a massive devastation to livestock sector, the main source of income and livelihood of poor people living in Katcha areas. Pakistan is the 4th biggest milk producer in the world and the contribution of livestock in overall agriculture output is 51.8pc and in GDP 21.8pc. The value of livestock is 6.1pc more than the combined value of all major and minor crops. The total livestock population in Sindh was about 40 million before the floods hit it hard. Though no exact figures so far have been released about the livestock losses, but according to the sources in livestock department more than 40 percent of the cattle heads have perished due to floods in the province, while the rest of animals are suffering from various diseases. If preventive steps are not taken on war footing the livestock sector in Sindh might suffer irreparable loss, they warned. The real dilemma is that the treatment of sick animals is not possible, till floodwater recedes in the affected areas, and on the other hand delay in treatment will further complicate the situation and increase death toll of cattle heads, the sources said. Mehram Ali, a displaced farmer from Kambar-Shahdadkot district, talking to PPI in a relief camp at Karachi, said he had nine buffalos and many goats but unfortunately he could sell only one buffalo and a goat. He said that he sold his goat worth Rs10000 only for 1500 rupees, while buffalo, which normally could have fetched Rs 90,000 before floods, was sold at Rs14000. Rest of his flock fell prey to floods, he said. Ali said his family narrowly escaped and fled from Shahdadkot area. He said flood has destroyed all of his assets, including crops and livestock. He said that he had not seen even a single veterinary medical camp in area from Shahdadkot to Karachi. Another victim, Bagan Ali, who migrated from a village near Kambar said that floodwater swept away almost all the animals in affected villages. He said the villagers hardly managed to rescue a few lambs, carrying them to relief camps. There was no arrangement for the treatment of sick animals in the camps, he said. Dr Bakhshal Thalho, President Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association, told PPI the recent floods have already perished 80 percent of animals in the province. He said that he himself is visiting various relief camps in Sindh. He said majority of villagers belonging to nomadic areas, which were richest in population of livestock in the province before the floods, came to relief camps without their animals. He said that the future scenario is dark, as stagnant floodwater about five to six feet was standing in affected areas, leaving no grass or vegetation for animals to eat. President PVMA said that thousands of carcasses of dead animals could easily be seen in floodwater. He feared diseases would spread soon in the affected areas if the government failed to take urgent preventive measures. He said that PVMA is trying its best to play due role in rescuing the affected people and animals. Dr. Buxal said that another threat might be 22 zoonotic diseases including tuberculosis, anthrax, bird flu and congo virus, but the main threat for animals is Haemmrloagic Septicemia a disease that thrive particularly in ongoing climate and situation. He added that though the government is vaccinating animals but the figures in this regard on official record are grossly exaggerated. He raised the point that there is no veterinary camp near any relief camp, where affected people are being shifted along with their rescued heads of livestock. He said had the government paid serious attention to the veterinary sector in the province today the situation would have been different. President PVMA further said that veterinary doctors have often offered their services to the provincial government but the government has always neglected them. He said now PVMA is busy in helping displaced population on self-help basis and vaccinating animals in many areas, particularly at Jamshoro and adjoining areas. Dr. Rashid Farooq, Regional Surveillance Officer Bird Flu Control Program Sindh told PPI that an acute threat of bird flu is present in the province which is transferable from animals to human beings. He feared there is a mass interaction between displaced people and their poultry. He said vaccination for Newcasele (Rani Kheath), a common disease of poultry sector is being carried out. In Sindh more than 40 million poultry birds were present before floods; however, the figures of their loss in the floods are yet to be assessed. Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Department Dr. Laique Ahmed Memon, who was in Sukkur, said on telephone that 139 emergency veterinary camps have already been established in 15 affected districts of the province. He said one million animals have been vaccinated, while treatment provided to more than 80 thousand animals. He said medicines have been provided to more than 70 thousand cattle heads. Secretary Livestock said that his department is trying its best to take all precautions in regard with eruption of foot and mouth and other diseases. He said immunity decrease in both animals and humans in such conditions so we are trying our level best to vaccinate more and more cattle heads. He rejected chances of eruption of zoonotic diseases which are transfer able from animals to human beings. He said that hundreds of thousands of animals have been perished in the floods while majority of the surviving ones might die of starving due to lack of grass and fodder. He said his department is providing fodder to remaining cattle heads in Sukkur, Khairpur, Dadu, Ghotki and Hyderabad, while fodder will also be provided to animals in Larkana, Kambar, Kashmore and Thatta. However, sources in livestock department said past experiences show many government schemes and actions are only on paper and seldom implemented. Sindh Minister Livestock Mir Abid Hussain Jatoi could not be contacted for comment.